Combination headlight-dimming and spotlight-controlling means



May 10,` 1927. `l627,645

G. H. HEMPHILL COMBINATION HEADLIONT DINMINO AND SPOTLIGHT OONTROLLINO MEANS Filed Oct. e. 1925 Patented May 10, 1927.

Uhll'lED STATES PATENT Ell.

GROVER H. HEMPHILL, OF CINCINNATI, HIO.

Application filed. October 6, 1925. Serial No. 60,812.

'ihis invention relates to a combination headlight dinnner and spot-light control, being an improvementupon my device tor this purpose'illustrated and described in my application Serial No. 663,010, liled Septem 'oer lth, 1923.

It is the principal object ot the present invention to provide an extremely simple, compact and economical device for closing a spot-light circuit in an automobile at a predetermined time during the operation of dimming the headlights, the means for et recting this result being wholly7 enclosed within the casing.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specil'ication and particularly set forth in the subj oined claims.

ln the accompanying drawings illustrating .my invention, Figure l is a side elevational 'View ot my dimming device and spot-light control, with one side ot the resistance-containing casing removed. Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken through the casing on the line 2-2 ol Figure l. Figure 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken through the casing on the line 3--3 of Figure Il. liigure et is a sectional view taken through one end ot the casing, showing how the dimmer may be locked in a predetermined position. rind Figure 5 is a wiring diagram, showing the circuits in which my device is included.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description oi' my invention, the numeral 1 designates a suitable metallic casing which is preferably rectangular in cross section and closed at one side by a removable plate 2. Secured to the rear wall o'l`A the casing l by screws 3, nuts l and washers 5 is an insulating block 6. Between the latter and one end ot the case suliicient space is lett for the vertical movement of a rod Y which freely passes through a hole in the top wall and hole in the bottom wall ot the case l. Secured to the top of the rod 7 is a mushroom-shaped head 8 adapted to be engaged by the 'foot ot an automobile driver to depress the rod against the tension ot' a. coil spring 9 surrounding the rod between its head S and a washer l() on a inember ll such an automobile licor board7 to which the case l is attached. (See Figure l) The lower end of the rod 7 is threaded to receive two nuts 12 and l2a respectively, the nut l2 being on the outside ot the case to limit the upward movemento the rod 7, while the nut l2u is on the inside ot the case to limit the downward movement ot said rod. These nuts may be adjusted on the rod to stop it at a desired point in its upward or downward travel. (See Figure l). t

Secured to one end ont the insulating block 6 by screws 13 and la is a tlat insulating piece l5 around which there is passed a wire 16 to term a llattened resistance helix, one olf whose ends is connected to the screw 18 and the other to the screw lll. (See Figures l and Turned over one end of the insulating piece l5 for attachment thereto by the screw 13, so as to be in contact with the end of the wire i6 received by the latter, is a metal conducting strip 17. Over the other end oi the insulating piece l5, for attachment thereto by the screw la, there is turned a metal conducting strip 1S which contacts with the end of the wire lo that is received by the screw 14. (See Figures l, 2 and 3).

Secured to the insulating bloclr 6 near the rod 7, is a pin 1 9 on which there is pivoted a contact arm 20, the rear end of which is bifurcated to freely lit a screw 2l secured to the rod '7. Between the head ot this screw 2l and `the biturcated portion oiv the arm 2G is a washer 22. The free end of the arm 2O is turned inwardly tor circular travel in contact with the flattened helix- 6. This tree end of the arm 2O is held in tensional engagement with the helix by a spring 23 coiled around the pin 19 between a washer 24 on its outer end and the arm. The outward movement of the washer 2d is limited by a cotter pin :25 passed through a hole in the pin 19. Eetween the Contact arm 2O and the insulating bloclr 6 is a collar 26 against which the con tact arm is pressed by the spring Q3, and between the collar 26 and the insulating block there is connected to the pin l2) one end ot a metal conducting strip Il which leads to, and is connected with, the screw 13. (See lligure l).

Secured to the lower right hand corner ol the insulating block 6 is an outwardly projecting screw 28 to which there is attached a spring Contact arm 99. The inner end of hereinafter described..y ln order .that the tree end or' the arm 20 may be held stationary at this point, the rod 7 is notched to .provide a. shoulder 32 which, when the rod 7 is, kicked outwardly, will engage the under part..

ot' the top ot the wall or' the case 1. The arm 2O vwill then be maintained with its free end. at the -middle of the helix 16 until said arm is released by kicking it in theoppo-` site direction. (See rFigure 4).

vWhile my` device may be `employed for other purposes, its principal use is that of a headlight dimmer and spot light control tor automobiles. lf it is to beused on anv automobile, there is secured to thecontact screw 14 one end ot a wire 33 which leads to a headlight 34 as shown by the wiring dian grani in Figure 3, a companion headlight 35v being included in the saine circuit by a wire 3G connected to the wire .From these headlights 34 and 35. lead connected ground wires 37 and 38 respectively.

Connected to the contact screw 13 is a` wire 39 which leads to a dash switch 40 that is in turn connected by a wire 41 to one terminal L, ola storage battery 42, the opposite terminal ot which is connected to ground by awire 43.

Connected to the contact screw 28 is awire 44 that lleads to a spot light 45 which is the upwardly projecting tree end oi' the stagrounded by a wire 46. (SeeFigure 3).

lli/*lien itis desired to dim the .headlights 34 and 35, the pressure ot the lootI is exerted downwardly upon the rod 7 to move the free end ot the arm 2O upwardly over the helix 16. The greater the distance the arm 2O is moved by the toot-depressed rod 7, the more resistance "ill be included by the helix 15 in the circuity deliued by the ground, batteryr 42, wire 41, switch 4l), wire 39, screw 13, conducting strip 2T, pin 19, Contact arm 20, wire. 16, contactscrew 14. wires 33 and 86, headlights 4 which lead to the ground. Eind in proportion as such resistance is included in the headlight circuit, the more the headlights 34 and 3o will be dimmed.

F or the purpose ot automatically illuminating the spot light when the head lights 34 and 35 have been dimmer a desired amount, the tree end ot the arm Q9 is positioncd to be engaged by the contact arm 2O at the time the headlights B4 and 35 are well dimmed. (See the dotted arrow in Figure Immediately the arm 2O contacts with tionary arm Q9, the spot light 45 will be inand 35 and wires 3'? and 38 eluded in the headlight circuit by the connections previously described, to illuminate it.

The outer end of the contact arm Q0 is free to be moved over the liclii; l) to its dotted position in Figure 3, whereupon all of tlieresistance otiered by the lieli\V ill will be thrown in the headlight circuit, while at the saine timethe .spot light will be illuniinated.

lt will now be seen that l have provided a headlight dimmer `and spot lightironti'ol inmvhich all oit the resistance and contact elements are conipactly mounted in the controlr casing.

l-laving-desci-ibed my inventioml claim:

1. A dimmer rheostat comprising a casing, an insulating member secured tlierein,a re- 4sistance winding on said member, a contact arm pivoted within said casing, 'tor engagelnientwith the resistance winding, means for shitting said Contact arm to di'lierent positions on the resistance winding, `and a second contact arm` lixedly secured within the casing for automatic engagement by the iirst contact `arm-whenA the latt-eris at a desired point on the resistance winding.

2. Adinimer rheostat comprising a casing, an insulating member securedtherein, aresistance winding on said member, a Contact arm pivoted within said casing,y 'torengage ment with the resistance winding, means for-.shitting said contactl arm to diil'erent positions on the resistance winding, and a 4second Contact arm lixedly secured 'within .Y the casing below the hrstcontact- -arm, the

`free end of the second contact arm projecting upwardly i'or automatic engagement by theiirst contact arniwhen thelatter is at a fdesired point on the resistance winding.

3. A. dimmer rheostat comprising a casing, airinsulating member secured therein, a resistance winding on said member, a contact arm pivoted within the casing for Circular travel wit-h its l'ree end iiiengageinent with `.said winding, longitudinally movable means to which said contact arin is pivotally secured, 'lor turning the latter, and a second contact arm lixedly secured within the casing .below theifirst contact arm, the free end or the ksecond contact arm projecting upwardlyi'or automatic,engagement by the first contact arm when the latter is at a desiredpoint on the resistanceV winding.

`4. A dimmer rheostat comprising a casing, a ilat insulating member secured therein, a helical resistance winding on said flat insulating, member, a contact arm pivoted within the casing 'for circular travel with its free end in engagement with said winding, a longitudinally movable rod to which said `contact arm is pivotally secured, tor turning the latter, and a spring Contact arm lixedly secured .at4 one end within the casing, with its other end projecting upwardly for autolll() matie enge-.vement by the first Contact arm when the latter is at a desired point on the resistance Winding.

5. A dimmer rheostat comprising a casing, a longitudinally movable operating member in said easing, a. resistance in the latter parallel with the operating member, means conneeted to said operating member for sliding Contact With ysaid resistance, and a Contact member adapted to be engaged by said con- 1o tact means on the operating member after said Contact means has traveled a lined distance in engagement with the resistance.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of September, 1925.

GROVER H. I-IEMPHILL. 

